Your Stories

Read the stories below and then add your own…

What was/is your connection to Connaught? What time period? What do you like best about Connaught? What made the school special? Why is it important to know our history? Please use the comment field below to share your story.

If you have artwork, video, poetry, photos, etc. to contribute, please email us.

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6 comments on “Your Stories”

I have very fond early memories of Connaught School, especially of high ceilings, long hallways, mysterious cloakrooms, and what seemed then like biggest building in the neighbourhood. The beauty of the building as it was then developed my love of architecture and history.
The best thing about the school was the teachers that I had and also the friendships that I developed, many of which remain today.
– Beth Ellsworth, Alumni, 1970-1978

As current principal of École Connaught Community School, I am extremely proud of our school and community. Our Centennial Celebration Committee is doing a wonderful job of providing numerous opportunities for present students, alumni and community members to get involved in our upcoming celebrations in September, 2012. I invite all present students, parents/guardians and staff members and all alumni, past parents/guardians, or past staff members to become involved in the celebrations in some way. Please share your stories. It will be interesting to hear what made Connaught special for you. Over 100 years, there should be some very interesting memories and history to be shared.

I have spent seven years at Connaught: four years as Vice-Principal from 2003-2007 and three years as Principal from 2009- present. I have enjoyed my time in this community and at this school. One of my favorite things has been the diversity of the students and the community. The students, parents/guardians and staff love their school and are involved in making it a wonderful place to learn and belong. There is a warm and welcoming feeling when people enter the school. I have enjoyed seeing students’ eyes light up when they share their work with me or celebrate their improvement in reading and their many projects. I have enjoyed seeing children’s eyes light up when they share their learning with their parents or participate in presentations or class trips. I have enjoyed sharing in the joy that teachers share when they witness their students’ accomplishments. Connaught Comets are special people! Go Comets!

My father attended Connaught School c. 1914. It was also my school from Kindergarten (1943) through to Grade 8.
My grandchildren Cory, Jaime and Kelly Anne Traynor were Connaught students from 1989-1987 until they moved to Hamilton.
I have many memories of Connaught. During the war years milk was provided daily to children who were deemed to require it and those who didn’t were rather envious.
Whipper Billy Watson’s visit to the school (c1949) was a big deal, as he was a famous wrestler.
The wide hallway doubled as our gym and auditorium. And so on…
– Elaine (Elderkin) Wood

I attended Connaught from halfway through kindergarten when we moved to Elphinstone Street until the end of Grade 8 – February 1960 – June 1968. I can still name all the teachers I had with the exception of grade 3, all of which made learning fun. One of my memories is of the principal Mr. Shaw coming into the classroom to talk about the past, taking up lesson time which we as students thought was great but I am sure that the teachers thought otherwise. It was a great school.

I attended Connaught from 1950 to 1958. One of my fond memories is a class dance in the hall and getting to dance with Mr. Nichol (grade 6? teacher) on whom I had a crush. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.

I remember going to Davin School for cooking class. I was chosen by the Home Ec teacher to go on TV cooking with Joy Perkins. I made “puff wheat cake”! (The recipe was on the back of the bag of puff wheat!). I recall that the class had a TV brought into the room so they could watch their classmate on TV.

I remember getting the strap in Grade 3 from Miss Campbell for an offence I didn’t commit! That was pretty devastating.